The School Food Tourhttps://schoolfoodtour.org
Pedaling for healthy kidsWed, 04 May 2016 11:54:30 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/970980c3e85068a357275699fb9d7139?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngThe School Food Tourhttps://schoolfoodtour.org
New Site: saraesalo.comhttps://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/05/14/saraesalo-com/
https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/05/14/saraesalo-com/#respondTue, 14 May 2013 01:50:57 +0000http://schoolfoodtour.org/?p=2472]]>I am thrilled to roll out this gorgeous new website for all of my non-SFT activities. Please check it out, comment, and be in touch!

To browse through blog entries from the School Food Tour bike trip, please click the “Older Posts” icon below.

]]>https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/04/14/inspiration-as-a-tool-for-change/feed/0spokespeopleCalling interested SFT ambassadors!https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/04/13/calling-interested-sft-ambassadors/
https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/04/13/calling-interested-sft-ambassadors/#commentsSat, 13 Apr 2013 20:06:06 +0000http://schoolfoodtour.org/?p=2464]]>How do you create a lasting program that is sustainable over the long-term? Add the participation of people with a vested interest in the issue!

Over the past 1o months I have contemplated again and again how best to keep the momentum from the School Food Tour moving forward. And although I loved life on the road, I can’t keep pedaling forever. So lately I have begun to explore the concept of a SFT Ambassador Program. Inquiries keep coming from folks looking to jump on board and this model seems like a perfect fit.

My vision: Each person or group would plan and conduct their own ride, long or short (perhaps without even leaving the city limits!), however they would undertake their journey with a unified goal of empowering students and communities to make healthier choices in their lives and school environments. Ambassadors would receive SFT riding shorts & jerseys, plus they could apply for grants to help finance their trips. Each SFT rider(s) would give a similarly structured presentation, with their own flair of course, and focus on outreach to schools or other youth organizations.

This plan is just in its formative stages, and hinges greatly on acquiring consistent funding, but if you have feedback or would like to put your name in as a possible SFT Ambassador, please get in touch. Stay tuned for more info!

]]>https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/04/13/calling-interested-sft-ambassadors/feed/2spokespeopleTEDxhttps://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/03/25/tedx/
https://schoolfoodtour.org/2013/03/25/tedx/#respondMon, 25 Mar 2013 01:40:09 +0000http://schoolfoodtour.org/?p=2455]]>I was honored to be invited to present at TEDx Houghton this weekend. My talk, entitled “Inspiration as a tool for change” wrapped up a day of fantastic presentations from bold thinkers. I’ll post the video clip once it’s on the web.

Introducing CATCH UP – a comprehensive school health wellness initiative in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’ll be managing this program for the next 3 years along with School Food Tour duties. Go be it!

]]>https://schoolfoodtour.org/2012/08/17/daily-mining-gazette-wellness-column/feed/0spokespeoplegazetteFarm to Cafeteria Conference 2012https://schoolfoodtour.org/2012/08/15/farm-to-cafeteria-conference-2012/
https://schoolfoodtour.org/2012/08/15/farm-to-cafeteria-conference-2012/#respondWed, 15 Aug 2012 01:55:01 +0000http://schoolfoodtour.org/?p=2400]]>How much can you learn and how inspired can you become in one weekend? Apparently, quite a bit. I recently traveled to Burlington, VT as a presenter and attendee at the 2012 Farm to Cafeteria conference.

It was a fantastic event filled with workshops that ranged from procurement strategies to marketing healthy meals in the cafeteria. Regional networking sessions were extremely fruitful and influential names dotted the program. An evening reception on the picturesque, sprawling grounds of Shelburne Farms featured local products prepared by regional chefs was another highlight for many.

The most exciting moment for me was the Poster & Resource Sharing Session on Saturday evening. I felt honored to be chosen as a presenter for this event and was thrilled to share the story of the School Food Tour with so many like-minded folks.

The visual SFT story.

Two questions kept surfacing as the crowd circulated around the ballroom:

“So what’s next?”

“This sounds awesome! How can I do a project like this?”

These queries are the same issues that I have been pondering as I consider how to keep a sense of continuity to the SFT initiative. Perhaps I will send out a fleet of SFT riders next spring; or publish a book about my adventures and lessons learned. Either way, the overwhelmingly positive reception that the SFT received in Vermont encouraged me to continue this work and pursue new collaboration opportunities. I am already looking forward to the next adventure!

Please drop me a line if we chatted at the conference. I would love to keep in touch with all of your smiling faces!